Hidden earthquake faults beneath Seattle may be more dangerous than expected
Research indicates that hidden earthquake faults beneath Seattle may be more active than previously thought. Smaller secondary faults in the Seattle Fault Zone could rupture approximately every 350 years, posing a significant risk to the city. This new understanding challenges previous assessments that primarily focused on the larger Cascadia fault offshore.
- ▪A network of hidden earthquake faults beneath Seattle may trigger earthquakes more frequently than expected.
- ▪Smaller secondary faults in the Seattle Fault Zone are estimated to rupture every 350 years.
- ▪The main Seattle fault produces major earthquakes only every 5,000 years or more.
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Science News from research organizations Hidden earthquake faults beneath Seattle may be more dangerous than expected Seattle may be sitting atop a surprisingly active web of hidden earthquake faults. Date: May 19, 2026 Source: Geological Society of America Summary: A hidden network of earthquake faults running beneath Seattle may be far more active than scientists realized. New research reveals that smaller “secondary” faults in the Seattle Fault Zone appear to rupture roughly every 350 years — much more often than the massive main fault that has long worried geologists. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A newly studied network of hidden faults beneath Seattle may be triggering earthquakes far more often than scientists thought.
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